My column on Jake Delhomme today -- predicting that "Good Jake" will make an appearance in the Atlanta game Sunday -- has drawn over 130 comments so far online.
The comments mostly range on one extreme from "Did they really pay you to write such a horrible article" to the other extreme of "You are the worst writer in the history of all writers."
In other words, there's not a lot of range.
There are some Jake fans out there still, but mostly they are hiding behind the bushes for now, worried that if they publicly declare themselves it will be grounds for a humiliating and/or a public stoning i.e. that short story many of us read in school once, "The Lottery." I'm getting some e-mails to that effect -- people who like Jake but don't want to say so in a public forum because of the vitriol they might be letting themselves in for.
As for me, I can take the vitriol -- years of practice, you know. So say what you like, but I still think Delhomme will have a good game against Atlanta Sunday.
And if he doesn't, I'm sure you will let me know about it.
Follow Scott on Twitter at Twitter.com/scott_fowler
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9 years ago
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Wow, great reference to a short story that has been etched permanently in my mind since reading it in high school. Anyway, I'm a fan of Jake - always have been. If this is the end of his career, then it's the end of his career...it will be bitter sweet for me because he's done a lot of great things for the Panthers over the years, and he seems like one of the better guys in the NFL by a long mile. I met him during the 2003 Super Bowl year, the week before the Panthers played against his former team, the Saints. He was signing autographs at the Belks in SouthPark and absolutely nobody was there...little did they know he'd be an out-of-bounds kick away from potentially winning the Super Bowl! He was the nicest guy you could ever meet.
It would be a sad way for his career as a Panther to end if things continue going in this direction, but I guess it just goes to show that emotional attachment in sports is a double edged sword. It's a business first and foremost, and winning is paramount. If this is the end for Jake, I hope he continues to be a presence in Charlotte doing good things for our community and I would have one message for him: "Thanks for the memories." Now flame away!
I read the article & concur. I just recently left a comment on it. Jake will play better, but Atlanta will still win. They are the better team & have a better player at the most important position in the NFL, QB. I want to see Jake do good & he has to for this team to make the playoffs & Fox to save his job. I think the coaches need to a better job putting him in a position to succeed.(see comment on other article) One game does not make a season & I know this team is talented enough to recover. Jake just needs to get his confidence back, not turn the ball over & the team will respond accordingly. It's the only chance the Panthers have of winning on Sunday. Nice articles by the way Scott
I have long been a Jake support...and really hope he can pull himself back together. Comes down to the O-Line giving him time to set and read, but he has to be confident in pulling the trigger. I didn't like his body language in the Philly game which has put me in a wait and see attitude. If he has another poor outing with Atlanta I say bench him and bring in Moore. AJ Feeley not ready or capable being a winning QB. I think Moore can be, but doesn't matter who is back there. They have to have time.
I'm behind your article 100%. Jake has had a horrific couple of games, but I just can't discount all the good he's done for us. All those 4th qtr comeback wins or what about last season's opener? Winning last second with that pass from Delhomme to Dante Rosario..how quickly people forget these things when Jake hits a rough spot. And those crying out that we should have gotten Cutler--his performance was miserable too on Sunday, he too had 4 int's!
Remember, past performance doesn't guarantee future results. I like Jake as a person, but he has marginal QB skills. He has never been accurate and throws off his back foot way too often. He never really puts the ball where it needs to be. In short, he is only OK. Fox is apparently ready to live and die with that.
Scott... for what it's worth, you are a fantastic writer. I think your articles are well thought out and offer an in depth perspective while avoiding the noise on the surface. I think alot of fans should learn from your thoughtfulness rather than wanting to drop an atomic bomb on this team. As for Jake - you may be right. The one aspect that I think has been overlooked this week... the OL said it. How many QBs can succeed? John Fox said - third and long is a disaster waiting to happen. Down 21 or 28 points early in the game, you are going to play the rest of the game as though it's third and long. It's no secret what we have to do on offense. And with a talented D like the Eagles, that's pin your ears back go time. As a QB, you are the face of the offense. And I commend Jake for taking this week in stride. Jake doesn't need to throw for 300 yds and 3 TDs to be good Jake. If he manages the game well and we sneak out of ATL with a win, that might not satisfy the Delhomme haters, but he'll have done the job.
Can't agree more! I still BELIEVE! Bring on the comments Band Wagon Jumpers!! Don't come back in December either!! We can do without all you Boo Birds anyways in OUR HOUSE!!!
Here's the deal on Jake as I see it. There are two long term problems;
1. Yes - He may show up at any time and have a good game, but he's every bit as likely to show up and destroy all hopes of winning. Everyone has good and bad days, but Jake's days have always been binary. He's either completely on or completely off. The range of his possible performance is a distraction and his "off" days can't be carried by the rest of the team.
2. Jake has the leadership skills of a whiney 12 year old. Maturity is not in his vocabulary.
Think back to the year we went to the Super Bowl. The cats won but it was not because of Jake. It was simply that the passes he wildly threw up in the last minutes of key games were grabbed for a gains and not picked off. Dare I say he just had a string of good luck?
I say ditch Jake now and look for real leadership in a QB. Jake is what he is...
Matt Moore is a little bit iffy? What about the starter. This isn't about hating on Jake, for whatever reason, age, tommy john surgery, predictabitity he has ceased to be a reliable starter. I know Moore throws to many ints, but he makes crucial 3rd down throws, and he plays with a certain enjoyment and has a smile on his face. Delhomme is always on the sidelines bitching and showing his arse. Time to go with the more option that is less iffy, time to start Moore.
Tune in The Beach Boys....
"Wouldn't it be nice if Jake could play well...
Then we'd live in perfect harmony.
And wouldn't it be great if Fox and Hurney
Didn't need to sit in that hot seat...."
I like Jake but I agree he's predictable. All of our quarterbacks are. Don't believe me. Look at the Philly game. After any interception when the cameras pan to the eagles sideline they were talking about, and acting out the thowing motions our quarterbacks made before they threw it. That's coaching. Pump fake sometime. Do something to fool the defence. Coach them to be better and smarter. or it won't matter who we get in.
While I agree that Jake's last 2 times out stunk to high heaven, I haven't given up on him yey.
Anon 12:27, you can't pump fake when you don't have 3 sec to get a throw off. You have to have O line protection to pump fake without being on your back by the time you pump it...
Anon 11:55 - Jake isn't a leader? I think you might want to ask his teammates about that, since you'll get a very definite answer YES! from them. If you want to see the Panthers offense without leadership, watch some of the games from 2 years ago with Carr as the QB.
Jake will play well against Atlanta! Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then!
Scott, I've met you several times over the years and I can tell you that you are the worst writer in the world. No, I'm only kidding. I hope for the Panthers' sake that Jake does well, but he has to prove himself once again to be a capable starter in the NFL. Another terrible outing and he is finished.
-Rob from Charlotte
Jake play well at Atlanta? Yeah sure! Why not? Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
I am a really big Jake Delhomme fan. Unfortunately i am usually among the silent types who do not express their opinions.
I have never thought of #17 as another Joe Montana, but he is usually pretty consistant. It's when he is trying to do it all - give that extra 10% over his usual 100 that gets him in trouble.
I for one liked your article. It was very well balanced and you made the points that it was not all Jake, but it was still mostly him.
The man has great character. I for one would have no problem if one of my sons said that he was a sports hero to them. He is a stand up guy. He does not shy away from, or try and deflect the blame. He often takes it all when there is plenty to go around.
I hope and pray he settles down this Sunday. Because great character does not win football games, and if you are not winning, you are not playing. Soon you are not being paid either.
Geaux Jake!
Geaux Panthers!
~ john
Martinsburg, WV
I agree that Jake has always been up and down--the question is whether he'll be able to go back up. For the record, I think Jake is an upstanding individual who gives every game his all...he really puts his heart into it, and I respect him for that. That said, if he has to be benched, he has to be benched.
Scott, buddy, I've got a Jake Pro Bowl jersey in my closet but no way is he bouncing back unless you can tell me this:
What happens when the Birds put 8 in the box and roll a safety on top of Smitty? Give me a positive, realistic option.
Okay we get it Jake is a swell guy! Super nice, great, kind and he signed autographs. Great, no really that is great but listen people he is not a starting quarterback!!! What does it take to see this fact. He was ok, at best at times. At this ponit it is pure ignorance to think he can take this team anywhere. If left to continue will he win some games , sure he will, will he make some good decisions, absolutely is he taking us anywhere except for averageville absolutely not. I think Jake really is a great person, honest, genuine, likes his team mates and likes the fans. I really do. Name the stadium after him,make him mayor but please people get us a quarterback.
2008: 59.4% completion
15-12 TD/INT ratio
2007: (Injury, but was off to an awesome start)
2006: 61% Completion
17-11 TD/INT ratio
2005: 60% Completion
24-16 TD/INT Ratio
As you can see, plus looking at film from yrs prior to the injury, he doesn't have the same zip on the ball and he is still trying to make the same throws...If you don't believe me, YouTube it...
Carolina was not prepared to play eagles in this game with any QB on the roster. Jake is just catching the blame for the failures of other 52 players and the coaches. 0-4 record of the preseason was just a preview of the lack of preparation, injuries was just the excuse. Winning starts with perparation for the battles on the field, none was evident on the field that day. How many coaches knew Jim Johnson's protege will plan like Jim Johnson? Pull out any philadelphia game tape in last 10 years and you will see the blue print of their philosophy and add an emotional high due to passing away of Johnson. Jake put your faith in yourself, believe in your team and you, prepare for game to win and go out play.
Yes, nice article. But since I'm not a pro football scout, writer, coach or player I'm not going to try to say what went wrong or what I think the Panthers should do next. But I do know that leading a pro football team to the Super Bowl is no fluke. Jake's good. And Scott is right; a LOT of things went wrong Sunday and, to his credit, Jake took the whole load.
Lots of people thought Montana and Roethlisberger were done shortly before they won Super Bowls. So I'm confident there's a little candy left in Jake's pinata.
I'm behind Jake.
Let's all be honest here, Jake is a great guy. Great leader and great personality. No one can take that away from him, he just isn't a good quarterback. If the Panthers had an above-average quarterback, they would be playoff bound, but because Fox refuses to admit Jake is just a so-so quarterback, and due to Pepper's ridiculous salary this year, no such QB can be even looked at. I am a huge Panthers fan, and I will not chance my loyalty because of Jake's mistakes, but I won't be watching any Panthers games if he continues to make me sick like he did Sunday. ( I know it wasn't his fault, but he did cause 5 of the 7 turnovers...which disgusts me).
man i'm not scared, i'm a jake fan and i'm not jumping off the band wagon yet. he had to horrible games, ryan leaf can't even pull that off, it's just bad luck. he's not that bad. when he shows up this sunday and wins the game in the last two min, all you haters come on here and post an apology for being so ignorant.
this is a good article..i like the fact that you're still behind jake. jake is a good QB. he did have 2 horrible games back to back, im sure he's reading the newspaper, listening to the media, and hearing what the crew on NFL network has say about him. he'll definately have a good game against ATL. if we all look at it, Jake is the reason why john fox still has a job, the panthers have been in playoff appearances, steve smith has over 100 yards recieving in each of his game last year..third times the charm. remember the time when jake had that surgery on his elbow and how horrible david carr was? everyone wanted jake and even Moose said that jake was better than the QB's up in Chicago..reminder how bad Jay Cutler played his first opener..he didnt do so hot either. if jake isnt the man..Matt Moore will lead us. he was 2-1 as a starter...Carolina wins, jake plays well throughout the season..remember, we dont have a first round next year so, to all the ppl that wanted us to loose all of our games, and Tim tebo is not the answer either..if he was, we would already picked up Vick
I have to agree with you that Jake will show up in ATL. I aslo agree with you that we may not win the game thought. Jake has shown the ability to bounce back after bad games, even though it didn't look that way last Sunday. People must be forgetting that this was the #2 seed in the playoffs last year and this team is filled with valuable talent at many key positions. ATL will prob come out blitzing like PHI and I believe Jake will beat them a couple of times before they back off and that will lead to him having an ok game. I think (but mostly hope) that ATL overlooks Carolina due to their poor preformance this past week, and we can steal a win in ATL.
Jake is a joke period...All those games he supposedly did well was due to his receivers (Smitty mainly) bailing him out. I have watched many games where he just throws it up and prays someone with a Panthers jersey catches it. I can only imagine what Smitty would do with an accurate QB. I can see Smitty and Peppers getting frustrated knowing all the talent they have is no good if you have Jake in the mix. No wonder Pep wants out, he comes off the field and then goes right back on it in the opposing tems red zone. Our defense can not perform if they are smoked from all the time they are on the field. Panthers management has made some poor decisions in the draft to sacrifice 1st round picks for the following year. Otah was a decent sacrifice but I am skeptical of Everette Brown. Maybe, they will clean house and start making smarter decisions like drafting a good QB...Jake seems like a nice guy but nice does not get you nowhere on the field.
Jake Delhomme, like many other journeyman quarterbacks past and present, can be effective in the right system. However, he can only carry a team so far if he has to do it mostly on his own or take control of a game. Without consistent offensive line play and with a defense that may give up many more points than last year, Jake may be called upon to go out of his comfort zone. It could be a long season for the Panthers.
Scott, I agree with you and I am not afraid to say it. These so call fans in charlotte and surrounding areas have no idea what a real fan is about. You stick with your TEAM through thick and thin. I think Jake is a decent QB not the greatest but he is better than the average NFL QB. He will play well Sunday. GO PANTHERS
He is the most immobile QB in the NFL. That style of play is over. He will continue to drag us down.
Jake is the Man, take down the Falcons and we will be fine! #17 will be back!
Why does everyone say youre a bandwagon fan if you voice your opinion about Delhomme? If you like a restaurant, do you have to like every item on their menue? If you like a camaro, do you have to like the chevette? Even if Delhomme plays well this week, it doesnt make him a good qb, it means he had a good game. Most of the time the team saves his butt out there and his stats get the credit for it, period. How many of those "final second" games he "won for us" were jump ball passes & how many of the passes were caught in mid stride by the receivers? Delhomme may be an ok guy i dont know him, but i can say he isnt the qb this team needs and still be a fan of the team, all you retards that think thats bandwagon jumping, go look up the term & see the definition of it.
Here's the better question: no matter who is behind center... do we have an O-line who is actually blocking? I sure didn't see it on Sunday!
If I have a negative opinion of Jake Delhomme I am not a true Panther fan. Is that really what you people are saying. A Panther fan would make you a person that supports the Panther's as a team, not an individual. Standing up for what you believe does not make you any less a Panther Fan. This is a TEAM sport not a Jake Delhomme Rehabilitation Center Or Jake Delhomme Charity. Why don't some of you Delhomme fans start thinking of some of the other players and coaches on this team. 95% of all Panther talk this week is about Jake Delhomme, and 85% of that has not been good. I am a fan but I am not a moron. I am not going to shove my head up my butt and say "maybe will get'em next week, Go Jake". It is a professional sport, it is not rec ball. A job with a paycheck.
Scott,
I believe that Jake will be back as well. Jake had a solid year last year. His stats would have even been better if we did not have the drops that plagued us somewhat frequently last season. He really only played 2 bad games (Cards and OAK) out of 17. The guy is a proven winner and it's going to take more than 3 bad games total in several years to make me believe that he's done. The guy has a winner's spirit and I reject the notion that he's done, not going to happen.
Jake Delhomme is done. If he has the game of his life against Atlanta it only proves that he can do the job but could at any time wig out. If he doesn't play well nay sayers will say he never could. Panthers are in a no win situation. Buy Jake a mood ring, wish him luck and send him packing!
Anybody remember what happened the last time Jake was out?
Yeah, I thought so... very short memory.
I think Jake is a great guy, and he has lost much of his confidence in the pocket. But, just being a great guy does not make you a great quarterback. I believe Jake's best days are behind him. Can he still have good games? Of course he can, but the problem is that from week to week you don't know what you are going to get from him. Out of 16 games, 6 will be good, 6 will be bad, and 4 will be games where his contribution to the game was so small that it didn't matter either way. That's not what you want from the QB position (if you are not just exceptional on defense).
I also agree that the offensive line played a major part in his poor performance, but some of their poor performance was caused by Jake also. I have been saying for years that Jake holds the ball TOO DAMN LONG. If you are not an illusive quarterback, you need to be getting the ball out of your hands in about 4 seconds, but Jake will just sit there holding the ball forever.
Yes I remember what happened the last time Jake was out we got to watch other below average quarterbacks that wore Panther uniforms. Hello, this problem did not happen this past Sunday this has been a huge problem we just keep pretending doesn't exist. Thank you for pointing that out.
A child molester can't be rehabilitated. Neither can a second class has been QB.
I LUV JAKE and am not afraid to say so. I have stood up for him many times online and I will continue to do so. I think it is disgusting the way so called fans have put all the blame on him. I will always support him and I know alot of other people that do also. So take that Jake Haters and stick it.
This team has won with Jake and lost without him, most of the time. He's had two bad games - terrible games - but his record is that of a winner. There area lot of us out here in Readerland that believe in him, and agree with you Scott. Good Jake is our starter and he'll prove himself in the course of the season, just as he has in the past.
Any real Panthers fan could not throw Delhomme out. Two reasons; Fox does know how to win, if he believes Jake still has it then Jake still has it. Secondly, tell me of one NFL player more competitve or more gritty. If he were an ultimate fighter would you want to get in the ring with him this week? Talk about cornering a wounded animal. I'm pulling hard for him, not whining about the guy who has done so much for this team.
And one other thing...a lot of the ranters chiming in about Jake are the same people who would have jettisoned John Kasey for missing a key field goal at some point or another in the Panther's history. I'm all for expressing opinions, but John Fox isn't an idiot, and he's paid to put a winner on the field.
There is no such person as "Good Jake", and there never was. Scott yourself right along with some other fans who won't admit it now fell in love with Jake when he came in that game for Rodney Peete, and just played okay. There is a reason this guy was cut, then a third stringer, and then couldn't beat out mediocre Saints quaterbacks that are no longer in the league. He never has been that good. Steve Smith has routinely made him look a little better than he actually is. I think I could throw up some balloon balls and let a gifted Steve Smith use his desire to out fight and jump corners for passes. I don't hink throwing for maybe 185 yards and 2 interceptions from time to time qualifies as having good performances. But it does sound better than throwing for 70 yards with 4 interceptions.
Hey Scott, just taking the time to drop a quick line letting you know that there are others who are willingly to publicly state that they believe Jake is still capable of playing good and think he'll show that this Sunday against the Falcons. He played good against the Falcons last season and I believe he will again this Sunday.
Did you read "The Blind Side" all the way through? Could Jake's problem be that he does not have the protection he needs to throw the football? The Panthers have too many players that do not seem to rise to their potential. Perhaps the coaches are not using their players in such a way that the whole TEAM is workable.
I have been off the Jake bandwagon a couple of years. Last year he played really well in some of the games Atlanta, and Denver. Everybody points at the QB, but this is Hurney and Foxs' fault.... They have been good in the draft, but free agency, not soo much.
Overpaying for everyone..(Gamble, Jake) Gross and Peppers deserve top money, but probably should have let Pep go....bottom line should had different FA summer
I say bring in Hank Baskett as a 2nd or 3rd option, then let let us judge Jake. Honestly I think he needs more targets besides the opposing defense.
jake will go down as the best panther QB to date. weve had a lot of highs with him behind center. more highs then lows in my opinion. i think everyone appreciates the work jake has put into the team and he certainly has some good throws left in him. i think the fans for the most part are getting tired of the same old thing. jake has been in the league since 97 and his age shows. we need to look at other possibilties sooner then later but nothing will change the fact that jake delhomme has brought thousands of fans to there feet while he's been a panther
In reference to what Jeffrey said about Jake "holding the ball to long". He needs to "get rid of it in 4 seconds". Are you kidding me? If he would have held the ball any longer during the Philly game we probably would have held his funeral this week. He would have probably given some big bucks just to have had 4 seconds.
Fan of Jake, just not the way he's been playing the past couple of games. I hope your right, and he does show up this week, but if he doesn't I think he's done in Carolina. If Jake plays good will beat Atlanta hands down, because if he plays good then the run will do good, and the defense will have something to play for.
Come on Panthers Take it to the Falcons the team has too much talent on it to lose to the Dirty Birds
IF HE WAS BLACK HE WOULD'VE BEEN GONE A LONG TIME AGO..HE'S A BACK UP PAST HIS PRIME..LET HIM GO.
Scott, I live in Virginia and seem to be one of only a handful of Panther fans. I am by no means a wagon jumper. (1 and 15 was a painful year) The Panthers are a good team. But, I have watched quite enough of Jake for the past few years to know that he throws high and throws behind his receivers. They make him look good, not the other way around and you know. Fox will not pull Jake early, that's not his style. Maybe at the half if Jake is stinking it up, but not before then. If that happens, Jake is done as a starter. One other thing, last week was a team loss. Jake wasn't on the field when the ball was ran back for a TD, he wasn't on the O-line trying to block anyone nor was Jake trying to rush the passer on any down. The Panthers and the coachs need to get mad and play will some attitude for the rest of the year. They need to be mad at themselves for not showing up to their home opener. Stop defending themselves in the press and start playing like they want to win at all cost even if it means benching the QB in the 1st quarter. Remember 0-2 and then a trip to Dallas, 0-3 doesn't sound to good does it. Again, the Panthers are a good team they need to play like it.
I just read the comment about " If Jake was black" Whoever wrote that has a small, weak mind in these days of which we live. Color has nothing to do with this. I can agree that he is a back type of QB now, so please keep remember, he and all of them are football players in the same color uniforms.
When I read comments by "Jake Supporters" who write in the most tortured way that sadly this is the end of his career I am mystified. Here's reality. The Panthers are unbelievably fortunate to have a quarterback who is in the top 6 in wins in the last several years. This "washed up" quarterback won 12 games during the regular season last year. TWELVE GAMES! But you say that the end of his career is immanent because the last 2 were terrible? The hard truth is that ANY quarterback in the league would have struggled under the same barrage Jake was subject to during the Arizona and Eagles games. Do we collectively suppose he is responsible for pass protection? No. But "he doesn't move well enough", "he doesn't get the ball out quick enough", or here's my favorite: "he does not throw the ball well enough". Jake is essentially the same quarterback he always has been. He is not ideal. He is not Brady, or Manning. He is a leader and a winner. That has not changed. He has willed wins in the past, and when things were not going well, he tries to by sheer determination to win in unfavorable circumstances. And so he tends to take chances in order to give his team a chance to win. What reason did he have for taking chances during the last 2 games? The offensive line pass protection has been awful. When he gets the protection he needs he will play the quarterback position the same way he always has. That "way" is successfully. So when he gets the protection, and starts to play well, and wins; I wish all the fair weather fans would hang their heads. Jake has done so much for our small market franchise. He has given us a chance to win every year... except for the one he did not play due to injury. The Jake Haters are irreformable. Their short-sited knee jerk tendencies are not worth debating. Those who have cheered him for years and now have begun to turn on him are the ones that I am disappointed in.
The guy was right by saying if Jake were black he'd be gone by now. Jake has played far worse then the guy he replaced here in Rodney Peete. I'd go a step further and say that if Jake was black all of you that are still supporting Jake would be calling for his head. Just look at the way Peppers is talked about. Julius did make the pro bowl last year. Did Jake?
Why must you imbeciles bring a players race into everything? Jake needs to go im my opinion, but it has nothing to do with color. Anyone that thinks like that has to be a racist themselves because no1 else was thinking about black or white. Most people base their opinions on performance, if youre thinking about color you need to be dragged behind a truck.
Jake is not done, but he will be if the coach can't adjust to the blitz.True, jake needs to take a sack, or throw the ball away, but two of those play's he did'nt even have time to tuck the ball away. Who was suprised, my mom would know the Eagles were going to blitz.I think this is more of a coaching problem.How long did Mcown last? Not long!JAKE KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, WE NEED YOU, and some of us remember all you have done for this team!
Can someone explain to me why the panthers dont call the vikings and get tavaris jackson? He looked great in preseason and is young, mobile, accurate, and has a strong arm. no we would rather bring in someone off the couch who never made it in the NFL...
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